Method and apparatus for controlling transmit power thresholds based on classification of wireless communication subscribers

• US 6,070,085 A
• Filed: 08/12/1997
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Bender, Paul E., Ziv, Noam A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US08/910,042
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/412, 455/418, 455/419, 455/435, 455/456, 455/522, 455/523, 455/68, 455/69, 455/426, 455/572, 455/574, 370/335, 370/347, 370/342
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for allowing a base station or base station controller to adjust transmissions to fixed location subscribers in closed-loop communication systems. In a closed-loop communication system, a base station exchanges signals with both fixed location and mobile user stations. When a user or subscriber initially registers with the base station, the base station determines a status of this subscriber based on, for example, an electronic serial number transmitted to the base station. The base station compares the electronic serial number to a database (Home Location Register) which determines whether the user corresponds to a fixed station or a mobile station. If the user is a fixed station, then the base station lowers nominal and minimum power level thresholds. Based on the lowered thresholds, the base station thereafter transmits forward link signals to the fixed station at a lower power level. As a result, the base station can increase its capacity due to the lower overall power rate.

Claims

1. In a communication system having a base station, a base station controller communicating with said base station, at least one fixed location user station and at least one mobile user station, wherein users of said user stations transmit signals to and receive communication signals from said base station, a method for controlling transmission signal power of said communication signals transmitted by said base station, the method comprising the steps of:

at said base station, receiving a current signal from said fixed user station or said mobile user station;

at said base station controller, determining if said current signal was transmitted by said fixed user station; and

at said base station, reducing a power threshold of communication signals transmitted to said fixed user station if said current signal was transmitted by said fixed user station.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said base station controller includes a mobile switching center and a registry of all user stations in said communication system, wherein the step of receiving includes the step of receiving a unique electronic serial number assigned to said fixed user station;

and

wherein the step of determining includes the steps of;

at said mobile switching center, comparing said unique electronic serial number to said registry, said registry identifying a classification of all user stations as being mobile or fixed based on assigned electronic serial numbers for all user stations; and

determining that said current signal was transmitted by said fixed user station if said unique electronic serial number corresponds to said fixed user station in said registry.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said base station transmits said communication signals to said user stations based on nominal, maximum and minimum power thresholds, and wherein the step of reducing a power threshold includes the step of reducing each of said nominal, maximum and minimum power thresholds by a fixed amount.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

at said base station controller, determining that said fixed user station has moved from a predetermined location; and

at said base station, restriction communication of said fixed user station with said communication network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the of step receiving a current signal includes the step of receiving a code division multiple access (CDMA) spread spectrum signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

at said base station, reducing a reverse link quality threshold;

at said base station, comparing a quality of signals received from said fixed user station to said reduced quality threshold; and

at said base station, transmitting power control messages to said fixed user station based on said step of comparing.

7. In a communication system having a base station, at least one fixed location user station and one mobile user station, wherein users of said user stations exchange signals with said base station, a method comprising the steps of:

determining if a currently received signal was transmitted by said fixed user station;

reducing a maximum energy threshold for signals transmitted to said fixed user station if said current signal was transmitted by said fixed user station; and

adjusting transmission of signals to said fixed user station in accordance with said threshold.

8. In a communication system having a base station, at least one fixed location user station and one mobile user station, wherein users of said user stations exchange signals with said base station, a method comprising the steps of:

determining if a currently received signal was transmitted by said fixed user station;

adjusting transmission of signals to said fixed user station if said current signal was transmitted by said fixed user station;

reducing a reverse link threshold if said current signal was transmitted by said fixed user station;

comparing a signals received from said fixed user station to said reduced reverse link threshold; and

transmitting control messages to said fixed user station based on said step of comparing.

9. In a communication system having base station means, at least one fixed location user station means and one mobile user station means, wherein users of said user station means exchange signals with said base station means, a system comprising:

means for determining if a currently received signal was transmitted by said fixed user station means;

means, coupled to said means for determining, for reducing nominal and minimum energy thresholds for said fixed user station means if said current signal was transmitted by said fixed user station means, and

means for adjusting transmission of signals to said fixed user station in accordance with said reduced nominal and minimum energy thresholds.

10. A communication system comprising:

a base station;

at least one mobile user station configured to exchange signals with said base station;

at least one fixed location user station configured to exchange said signals with said base station; and

wherein said base station is configured;

to determine if a currently received signal was transmitted by said fixed user station,

to reduce nominal and maximum energy thresholds for said fixed user station if said current signal was transmitted by said fixed user station, and

to adjust transmission of said signals to said fixed user station in accordance to said reduced nominal and maximum energy thresholds.

11. A communication system comprising:

a base station;

at least one mobile user station configured to exchange signals with said base station;

at least one fixed location user station configured to exchange said signals with said base station; and

a base station controller, wherein said base station controller is configured to reduce nominal and maximum energy thresholds for said fixed user station if said current signal was transmitted by said fixed user station, and

wherein said base station is configured;

to determine if a currently received signal was transmitted by said fixed user station, and

to adjust transmission of said signals to said fixed user station in accordance to said reduced nominal and maximum energy thresholds.

12. A communication system comprising:

a base station;

at least one mobile user station configured to exchange signals with said base station;

at least one fixed location user station configured to exchange said signals with said base station; and

wherein said base station is configured;

to determine if a currently received signal was transmitted by said fixed user station;

to adjust transmission of said signals to said fixed user station if said current signal was transmitted by said fixed user station;

to reduce a reverse link threshold if said current signal was transmitted by said fixed user station;

to compare said signals received from said fixed user station to said reduced reverse link threshold; and

to transmit control messages to said fixed user station based on said comparison.

13. In a communication system having at least one fixed location user station and one mobile user station, a base station exchanging signals with said fixed and mobile stations comprising:

a receiver that receives a current signal from said mobile or fixed user station;

a processor coupled to said receiver and being configured;

to determine if said currently received signal was transmitted by said fixed user station; and

to reduce nominal and maximum energy thresholds for said fixed user station if said current signal was transmitted by said fixed user station; and

a transmitter coupled to said processor that reduces a power of signals transmitted to said fixed user station.

14. In a communication system having at least one fixed location user station and one mobile user station, a base station exchanging signals with said fixed and mobile stations comprising:

a receiver that receives a current signal from said mobile or fixed user station;

a processor coupled to said receiver and being configured to determine if said currently received signal was transmitted by said fixed user station;

a base station controller configured to reduce nominal and maximum energy thresholds for said fixed user station and communicate said reduced nominal and maximum thresholds to said processor if said current signal was transmitted by said fixed user station; and

a transmitter coupled to said processor that reduces a power of signals transmitted to said fixed user station.

15. In a communication system having at least one fixed location user station and one mobile user station, a base station exchanging signals with said fixed and mobile stations comprising:

a receiver that receives a current signal from said mobile or fixed user station;

a processor coupled to said receiver and being configured to;

determine if said currently received signal was transmitted by said fixed user station;

to reduce a reverse link threshold if said current signal was transmitted by said fixed user station;

to compare a signals received from said fixed user station to said reduced reverse link threshold, and

to transmit control messages to said fixed user station based on said comparison; and

a transmitter coupled to said processor that reduces a power of signals transmitted to said fixed user station if said current signal was transmitted by said fixed user station.